Electric switch



w. F. HURLBURTETr AL ELECTRIC SWITCH Dec. 26,- H133.

mmw le@ a l, a ai; l UW D- 25, 1933. w. F. HURLBURT r AL l 1,941,210

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Een; y

. lNvENToR Wilbur FHurZbur Frederick M. Vogel ,By 'y Patented Dec. 26, 1933 iran STATES PATENT ori-ics V v Emc'rmc'swrrolr -v wilbu'nnunhurt, East. orange, and FrederickV M; Vogel; Glengdge, N. J., assignors toAutof matic Switch Co., New York, Y. ApplicationlJanum-.y- 5, 1931. serial No'. 506,534`

,9* claims.' rc1.' zoo-111) Our present inventionrelatesy generally to elec'- tric switches, and'has particular reference to a type of switch which isprimarilyf' adapted for remote control operation; Y I 1 A generall object of our invention is to provide a switch which may be appliedlor mounted on a panel board or the liltel in anfextremely' simple and efficient manner for the *purposeV of controlling the establishmentV and vbreaking of' certain electrical connections between bus barsfor the like mounted on thezpan'el board vAnother general object of? ourv invention is to provide an improved and simiplifled switchof ther type wherein the complete operation of the switch, forcircuit opening or circuit closing purposes, is effected primarily by themomentumor inertia of la movable controlmember whose move"F ments are initiated `by`- an externally applied force, such'l asthat afforded by anelectromagnet or solenoid.l f f L f vAlthoughvwe haveherein illustrated and shall 'hereinafter describe a two-hole, single-throw switch, vit will be understood'rthat certain phases of our invention are not restricted to a;V particu'- lar application of'thi's character and'that the essential ,features rof* ourinvention arev capable of embodiment in a` variety of other types of switches.V i

Before describing the features of `our invention in greater detail, we`wil1premise that where two spaced' and alignedbusbars haveheretof'ore been arranged upon apanel board, the installation of a switch between these bus bars for the purpose of making and breaking an electrical'connection between them has entailed the painstakingfand-accurate extralabor of `drilling-holes in the panel board, or taking similar steps,` for the purpose of accommodatingr a` switchV in a properly accurate positional relationship v'to the` Such switch customarily is provided bus bars. with a brush or its equivalentwhose opposite ends arrange themselves over the spaced Vbus bars,` respectively. When the Contact 'isto be closed, the brushmovesdownwardly onto -the bus bars; andwhen the contact is'to be opened; the vbrush rises from thebus bar. If the switch is not accurately 'positioned' on the panelv board,

the brush will not'make accurate'and efficient contact at its opposite-endswithl the bus'fbars involved. v It is one object of our present'invention to provide a switch whose installation under con'- diticns of the foregoing illustrative character has been greatly simplified, and who'sesubsequent operationis always accurateand of maximum e!- flciency so4 far as closure of electrical connections between the bus barsis concerned. Y

In accordance withlthis general object, it is a feature of our invention to provides. switch wherein a housing is provided with attachment lugs or extensions 'each of .which is, in elect, a bus barsection coacting with. a brush or its equivalent accurately and properly arranged withinl the housing duringfthe manufacture of the switch. Inf mounting the switch upon the panel board, the attachment extensionsengage with the bus `bars involved and serve at one and the same time to securethe switchto the panel board'andalso virtually to extend the bus bars into the housing of the switch itself. f

AAnother general object of`our.invention is to provide a switch which-may be installed and operated with equal facility and elciency in 'either a vertical `or a horizontal position, or, for that matter, in-` any desired position or inclination. In accordance with the last-mentioned object, it is a featureY of our inventionto'provide a construction wherein the movable control member, whose inertiaor momentum is materialineffecting the operationv'of the switch,y is so constructed and arranged that the movements thereoffare unaffectedby the disposition or angular inclination of the switch itself. 1

Thus, it is a feature of our invention to provide a switch vof the foregoing character, wherein the weight ofithe movable`r control member is elimiv nated as afactorwhich affects the switch operation, except in so far as such weight increases the inertia and mass of the movable control member. More particularly, we provide an arrangement whereby the force of gravity upon the center of gravity of the movable control member is powerless to affect the contemplated movements and' operative effects` of the Vcontrol member. Y g

`In the construction herein illustrated by way of example, the`movable control member is in the form of a drumfrotatably mounted upon an axis coincident with the center of gravity ofthe drum. Ther drum is' adapted to be oscillatedor reciprocated in an angular manner `'about this axiaand, obviously,the force of gravity operates upon the rotational axis but does not allect the movements `of thedrum aroundV this axis.

The-external means-which we prefer to employ for the purpose of initiating the, movements `o! the control member ordrum is a solenoid; the

movable core of which is articulated ina particu.- lar mannerwith the control" drum; To energize 'andv deenerglze the magnetic coil; an'electriccon- Il i) for automatically locking the switch in each of its positions, this lockingrneans being independent of the action of thewweight of the control member. f Y

Other features of our invention lie in the particular construction andA arrangement of parts which renders our present switch relatively simple in structural nature, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, vreliable and efficient in operation, and also rugged and staunch and unsusceptible to the influence of vibrations and the like.

We achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be vpointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch of the present character applied yto a panel board, the top .of the switch being broken away for the sake of -clearness;

Figure 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and showing also at the line 1-1 the direction in which Figure l has been taken;

.Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational cross-sectional View rtaken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figures 5 Vand 6 are views similar to Figure 2, showing the relationship of the parts during operation of the switch;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Figure 2, and .illustrating the electric control circuit;

Figure 8 is an elevational cross-section taken substantially along the line 8-7-8 of Figure l; and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially` along the line 9,-9 of Figure 1.

In the construction herein illustrated, we have shown a switch of the present character mounted upon a panel board 10 in association with two pairs of aligned and spaced bus bars. More particularly, we have shown a bus bar 1l spaced from and aligned with a bus bar 12, and we have shown a bus bar 13 spaced from and aligned with a. bus bar 14. The panel may be of any suitable material, such as slate or ebony asbestos, and the bus bars are secured to the surface thereof in ,any desired manner, preferably by means of studs whose Vupper or outer` threaded ends extend through the ends kof the bus bars, respectively,

for a purpose presently to be described. In Figure 4, for example, a stud 15 of this character has been illustrated in association with the bus bar 11, and a similar stud 16 extends upwardly through the end of the bus bar 12. Similar studs 17 and 18 are associated with thebus bars 13 and 14, respectively.

In accordance with our present invention, the switch is mounted on the panel 10 in the space between the bus bars, and the function of the switch in connection Iwith these bus bars will be to make and break electrical connections, at predetermined times, between the bus bar pair 11 and 12 and between the bus bar pair 13 and 14. The switch illustrated is thus a two-pole, singlethrow switch.

The housing of the switch which we have shownis composed of two main parts, a base, which is preferably made entirely of insulating material, and a cover, which may be of any suitable' material, such as cast iron or pressed steel. The housing, and, more especially, the base thereof, is provided with a series of attachment elements or lugs which project laterally and are adapted to accommodate studs or similar instrumentalities for mounting the entire housing in a predetermined position upon its contemplated support. In accordance with our present invention, these attachment elements are of conductive material and are arranged to project at opposite sides of the housing in such a manner that they .may be, respectively, brought into direct engagement with the bus bars11-14. In Figures 1 and 2, for example, it will be noted that an attachment element 19 is adapted to engage over the stud 15, a nut or the like 23 engaging with this stud to secure the element 19 to the panel and tohold this element and the bus bar 11 in firm contacting engagement. Simivlarly, attachment elements 20, 21, and 22 are secured to, and contact with, the bus bars 12, f

13, and 14, respectively.

In the illustrated form, the elements 19-22 are themselves composed of bus bar material, such as copper, and each one is in the form o1' a strip which is arranged in countersunk relationj,

ship within the bottom surface of the base of the housing. Referring to Figure 7, for example,

4the conductive strip 19 is secured to the base 24 by means of a stud 25 which extends upwardly into the base. and 22 are secured to the base by means of studs 26, 27, and 28, respectively. In Figure 7, the openings in the projecting portions of the elements 19-22 are clearly discernible, these openings being adapted to engage over the studs 15-18 which are associated with the ends of the bus bars 10-14.

The base of the housing is illustrated most clearly in Figure 7, is substantially rectangular, and has a substantially flat bottom 29 provided with upstanding corner portions or pedestals 30, 31, 32, and 33. Projecting upwardly through these pedestals are a series of studs 34, the heads of which are countersunk in the bottom surface of the base 24, and the threaded ends of which project upwardly to receive and support attachment lugs 35 provided on the cover. Nuts 36 engage with the studs 34 to hold the housing in assembled condition.

In the floor 29 of the base of the housing are yfour openings 37, 38, 39, and 40, within which the inner ends of the attachment elements 19-22, are, respectively, disposed as shown most clearly in Figure 7. It is through the openings 37 and 38 that a brush, presently to be described, gains access to the elements 19 and 20 for the purpose of establishing and breaking an electrical connection between them; and it is through the openings 39 and 40 that a similar second brush,

presently to be described, fulfills the same general function in connection with the conductive strips 21 and 22.

yProjecting upwardly from the flor 29 of the base are a series of partitions of arc barriers which help to shield the inner ends of the elel Similarly, the strips 20, 21,

within this slot.r The other end of the connecting rod is pivoted, as at- 89, within the slot or space formed between the 'two upstanding lips 90 formed onV the midportion'of the drum 77. The pin 89 is virtually a crank pin, and cooperates with the connecting rod 87 and the core 83 in the same manner as though the core 83 were a crosshead of an engine.

The core 83 is normally inthe position shown in Figure 2, the magnet being deenergized and the spring 84 urging the core toward the right, as viewed in this figure. The core abuts against the drum and is thereby held in the position shownunder normal conditions. When the solenoid is energized, in a manner presently to be described, the core 83 is drawn into the magnetic coil against the action of the spring 84, and this movement is transmitted through the connecting rod 87 to the drum 75 and initiates a rotational movement of thevdrum.

In accordance with our' invention, the magnet becomes automatically deenergized after a predetermined initial I movement of the drum 75, whereby the momentum of the latter is permitted to complete its oscillation into the position of Figure 6, this complete movement, enhanced by the action of the spring 84, serving'to return the core 83-to its normal projecting position. The connecting rod 87, however, will have been moved from the inclined position ofv Figure 2 tothe oppositely inclined position of Figure 6.

The energization and deenergization of the electromagnet is effected by means of an auxiliary electric circuit and an automatic circuit-breaking switch in this circuit and controllable by the drum 75 itself, Before describing this circuit, we will point out that a lever'91, of insulating material, is loosely mounted at one end to the shaft 76, and is provided at its opposite end with a transversely arranged rod 92 of conductive material, preferably brass, the opposite free ends of this rod being provided with contact collars, preferably of a silver alloy or the like. The lever 91 is mounted on the shaft 76 substantially midway of the latter, and this is made possible byl providing a transverse slot or channel within the drum 75 in the manner clearly indicated in the drawings, and, more especially, in Figures 2, 5, and 6.

Mounted within the last-mentioned channel or recess is a U-shaped spring' 93, secured as at 94 to the drum 75, and provided with the two opposed spring fingers 95 and 96. This spring is so mounted and arranged that when the' drum is in the position of Figure 2', the nger 96 will bear against the lever 91 and urge thelatter in a clockwise direction in a yieldable manner. At this time, the spring finger 95 is inoperative, but as soon as the drum 75 approaches its opposite position, as shown in Figure 6, the finger 95 becomes operative to bear against the opposite side of the lever 91 and urge the latter in a counterclockwise direction, as shown most clearly in Figure 6.

Mounted on the base 29 are four upstanding spring contacts 97, 98,99, and 100, these being preferably'made of brassor silver-copper alloy and being secured to the base in any desired manner. The contacts 97 and 99 are arranged` `side by side'and are adapted to be encountered by the opposite ends of the rod 92 when the drum 75 is in the position of Figure 2. 'I'he contacts 98 and 100 are positioned in an opposed manner. also side by side, and are adapted to be encountered by the rod 92 when the drum is in its opposite extreme position, as shown in Figure 6. Thus, in Figure 2, the spring nger 96, through its action 'which may be termed the off `95, through its action on the lever 91, is holding the rod 92 firmly in contact withv the spring contacts 98 and 100, thereby establishing a direct vseries connection between them.

The electrical Acircuit for controlling the solenoid is shown most clearly inY Figure 7. Three binding posts 101, 102, and^103 vare preferably employed, and are mounted on the side of the base of the housing in theV adjacent spaced relationshipv shown in Figure 1. 'From the terminal 101 a suitable'lead 104 connects with one end oi' `the magnet 81; The, other end of the magnet is connected by a lead to the contact 97.' The contact 97 isintegral with the contact 98, and is preferably constructed in the U-shaped manner shown in Figure 2 from a single strip of material.

From the `terminal 102 a lead 106 connects with the Contact 99, anda similar lead 107 connects the binding post 103 with-the contact 100. Leads extend from the binding posts 101, 102, and 103 to any convenient point of control, usually ata distance from the switch. A momentary contact button, for example, which might be termed the on button connects in this way with the binding posts 101 and 102. A similarbutton, button, connects with the terminals 101 and 103.

As a result of the foregoing arrangement, the operation'of the switch-is as follows: 4Assuming the parts to be in the normal inoperative relationship of Figure 2, an actuation of the fon button at a remote point will cause a control current, usually the ordinary 11G-volt supply, to pass through the contact 99, the rod 92, and the contact 97 for the purpose Vof energizing the 'solenoid 81. This causes the core 83 to be attracted into the solenoid and initiates a rotational movement of the drum 75 out of the position of Figure 2 and in a counterclockwise direction. During about 30J of this movement, the spring finger 96rem'a`ins operative upon the lever 91 so as to maintainthe auxiliary circuit. The movement of the drum having thus been' initiated, the finger 96 will presently release its pressure upon the lever 91, so that the parts will presently assume the position of Figure 5. Thereafter, the a spring finger 95` becomes operative to push the lever 91 into the position of Figure 6, thereby breaking the series connection between the contacts 97 and 99, This will breakthe auxiliary circuit and deenergize the magnet, as a result of which the complete throw of the drum 75 will be caused to continue solely by virtue'of the momentum thus far imparted to it'by the outside means, vThe solenoid being dee'nergized, the'core 83V is free to return -to its normal position under the action of the spring 84 and also by virtue of the pull thereonfby the connecting rod 87. l

This throw o1 the drum 75 from one extreme position to the other is thus effected inY a fraction of a second, and causes the brushes 67 and 68 to nieve suddeniy downwardly into their 0perative positions. atfwhich time the brush 671will contact-simultaneously at `Vboth of its ends with the conductive strips 21 and 22, while the brush 68 will establish a similar electrical connection I' between the strips 19 and 20.

` The brushes will be locked in this position by virtue of the fact that upward movement thereof would necessitate an upward swing of the levers 59 and r65, which'is obviously impossible,

.ame-1o o uponvewing Figure unless the drumitselfis caused .to'rotate in the returnv direction. 'v

yWhile thef switch is-thus operative, lit is obvious that the auxiliary circuit broken at-97 and` 99wi1l have' been reestablished atf98 and`- 100.

ing this returnmovemenuthe rod92-willremaininc'ontact with the points 98` andik 100, while-the drum swings through; approximately 30,this being assured by the4 continuing -action-ofthe spring finger 95 during `this 30'? f' movement.

Thereafter, the 'momentumof Vthe drum cen-` tinues its movement n andiY the matically deenergized.l ,Y c

When the brushes are in the inoperative positions, they are similarly locked againstmovesolenoid auto'- ment out of` these positions bymeans of the.

levers 59 and 65, andthe associated mechanisme The advantages of our present switch will be obviousffrom-the description given. vThe axisof rotational movementV of thefdrumf '75 passing practically ,through the center of' gravity of the drum, the weight of `thelatter doesr not affect or interfere with the proper operation of the `the manner described.

switch except in so ifar as this weight contributes `to the inertia and-mass ofthe drum'. Whether the switch is arranged upon a horizontal panel or upon a vertical panel, or whether it bemounted infany other inclination or arrangement, the contemplated operation will always take place in 4Since the arrangement of the strips 19-22 is provided for during manufacture, the' initial mounting and assembly of the partsV to assure proper contact between each brush and its two accuratelyy the same and will not depend upon thehaphazard judgment or skill of any outside workmen who maybe called upon to install the switch. The strips 19-22 virtually carry thev outside bus bars into the interiorof the switch, so that the proper functioning of' the brushes may be controlled byV the manufacturer of the switch, and will be independent of any particular pains or care that may be necessary in installing the switch upon a panel.

Afurther advantagev is obviously the one which dispenses with the necessity for accurate or predetermined drilling of additionaly holes in the panel for the purpose of Vmounting the switch.

If the outside bus bars are properly spaced to start with, usually in accordance with specications supplied by the switch manufacturer, it is necessary for the installer merely to apply the switch to the studs 15-18 and then tighten up `upon the nuts engagingthese studs.v Not only is extra labor and time avoided in this manner, but the necessity for extra parts and attachment lugs and the like is rendered `entirelyunnecessary. Of most importance is the ease and simplicity with which the switch may be expeditiously applied to its contemplated position with the unfailing assurance that Yits operation thereafter will be accurate and uniformly efcient.

, lReplacement is also simplified and expedited.

By the same token, it is obvious that vibrations and jarring will not affect the iswitch, no

its proper functioning. Y n

A further advantage of our present construction lies in the fact that no auxiliary current -need be maintained. The solenoid is normally deenergized *andi current is* caused to passk through-it onlyfor av fraction of a-fsecond whenever the switch is desiredto operate.f As a re-i sult, `extra parts, yresistancea "and-1 similar devices and'expedientes` are completely avoided; Another advantage lies in the fact'thatthe present switch"is-dead, 'as will be obvious froml f the description given. No contact with the "switch,-

other than deliberate co'ntact with the oper-- ativebrushesgcan possibly cause current to'pass' through the person making the contact. VI`f-de sred. even the bafushesfclosedand guarded;V

the particu accordance witl-rthe-same principles, it being may be -cmpletelyrenur invention is'not restricted toV c construction ymustrateci. A threa-v poleswiltch might", forexample, be constructed inI merely ,necessary `toy mount an `additional brush uponj the'bearnj61y vandl toqarrangey an additional pair of? conductive attachmentele'ments inv oper-jy at-ive relationship to thefbrushlf Similarly, any c multipole switch may be constructed by simply".

duplicating these-parts;

c Where desired", a manually `controllable han"- Vdle',.su'ch as that shown at 108,` vmay vbe mounted` uponf thev end of the shaft 'I6 'so as to permit" operation of the switch to-Ybe effected independentlyof the auxiliary controlf circuit.

Other changes and-'modifications will readily' suggest themselves-tovtl'rosel whof are conversant with this general art, and, in general, it will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustratedfor the purpose of explain-` ing the nature ofrr our invention may be made by those skilled in the art Withoutv departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended thaty these details be interpreted as illustrative,

Aand not in a limiting sense.` corresponding conductive strips will always be ,Y Having thus described our invention, and illustrated its use, whatwe claim` as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-A c 1. In an electric switch of the character demounted, relatively weighty member' for controlling the movements of said brush, the center 2. In an electric switch of the `character' de-V scribed, a movable contact brush, a weighty` movable member for controlling/,the movements yof said brush, andv electromagnetic means for initiating the movement of said weighty member;.

irisf scribed, a movable contact brush, a pivotallyV 126% said member being mounted for rotational move-iy ment about an axis passing through its center of gravity, wherebythe functioning of the-switch remains unafected in all Apositions thereof.

3. In an electric switch of the character described, a movable contact brush, a relatively weighty, substantially cylindrical drum mount- `ed for rotational oscillation about its axis, ,saidV drum controlling the movements of said brush, l

and electromagnetic means for initiating the ols- Acillations of said drum.

, 4. In an electric switch of the character described, a movable contact brush, a relatively weighty, substantially cylindrical drum mounted for rotational `oscillation about its axis', said drum controlling the movements of said brush, and means eccentrically engaging said drum for locking said brush against further movement afterV its desired movement has been eil'ected.` L5. In an electric switch of the character de.- scribed, a contact brush mounted for bodily reciprocation between two extreme positions, La relatively weighty, substantially cylindrical drum mounted for rotational oscillation about its axis and controlling the reciprocations of the brush,

and means eccentrically engaging said drum for locking said brush against movements out of said extreme positions exceptduring oscillations of the drum.. f

6. In an electric switch of the character described, a contact brush mounted for bodily reciprocation between two extreme positions, a relatively weighty, substantially cylindrical drum mounted for rotational oscillation about its axis and controlling the reciprocations of the brush, a crank pin carried eccentrically by said drum, and a slottedlever engaging-said pin and articulated to said brush to lock the latter against retractive movements out of said extreme positions. n

7. In an electric switch of the character described, a contact brush mounted for bodily re- Vciprocation between two extreme positions, a 'relatively weighty, substantially cylindrical drum mounted for rotational oscillation about its axis and controlling the reciprocations of the brush, a crank pin carried eccentrically by said drum,

Vand a slotted lever engaging said pin in said slot and jpivoted vto anxed point at its opposite end, said lever being pivoted between said end and said slot to said brush, so as to lock the latter against movement out of its extremelpositions.

8. In .an electric switch of thev character de,

9. In an electric switch of the character de scribed, a movable contact brush, a relatively weighty, substantially cylindrical drum mounted` for rotational oscillation about its axis, said drum controlling the movements ofy said brush, and.

electromagnetic means for initiating the oscillations of said drum; said electromagnetic means comprising a solenoid with a reciprocable core, a spring urging said core away from the position it is attracted into by ysaid* solenoid, a crank pin on said drum, and a connecting rod between said core and said crank pin.

WILBUR F. HURLBURT. FREDERICK M. VOGEL. 

